Unicorns and Decacorns - The Madness of Webvestors

paddyrg

jjlandlord wrote: »

How is it illegal?

In many territories it's basically running unvetted, unlicensed minicabs, ignoring local licensing and pretty much saying local laws don't apply because lalalalalalaaaa.

Generali

jjlandlord wrote: »

How is it illegal?

If anything Uber highlights the fact that the industry is held by a !!!!! with the complicity of governments.
Competition is good for consumers, right?

Now, their valuation is madness, no doubt about that.

The Australian courts are pretty clear that what they're doing is illegal as are several in the US.

Basically Uber are trying to force changes in cab laws worldwide based on the idea that they have more money than Governments.

purch

Generali wrote: »

Basically Uber are trying to force changes in cab laws worldwide based on the idea that they have more money than Governments.

Yes but they do have a fancy little map that shows you your unlicenced cab in real time :T

It got rugged all excited, but then I guess he doesn't understand Tech like us boomies

N1AK

jjlandlord wrote: »

How is it illegal?

By the standard definition: "forbidden by law"

N1AK

Generali wrote: »

The Australian courts are pretty clear that what they're doing is illegal as are several in the US.

Basically Uber are trying to force changes in cab laws worldwide based on the idea that they have more money than Governments.

To be fair it's a pretty good strategy. Changing laws, even anti-competitive or pointless ones, is difficult. Governments tend to be overly lenient about punishing companies for breaking laws. Uber can afford to pay the low cost of breaking the law now, and in return can get a huge headstart over other companies who can't afford to get into the market until the laws are reformed.

It's risky, and I don't agree with them on a number of things, but I think the gamble is a smart one.

Generali

N1AK wrote: »

To be fair it's a pretty good strategy. Changing laws, even anti-competitive or pointless ones, is difficult. Governments tend to be overly lenient about punishing companies for breaking laws. Uber can afford to pay the low cost of breaking the law now, and in return can get a huge headstart over other companies who can't afford to get into the market until the laws are reformed.

It's risky, and I don't agree with them on a number of things, but I think the gamble is a smart one.

Oh yes, the current cab laws in Sydney are here to prop up the price of cab licence plates ($400,000) rather than to help cabbies make a living or clients get a cab. That needs to change and I hope this helps.

IronWolf

Generali wrote: »

Oh yes, the current cab laws in Sydney are here to prop up the price of cab licence plates ($400,000) rather than to help cabbies make a living or clients get a cab. That needs to change and I hope this helps.

That's the problem in most countries, cabbies are paying huge fee's for the license and governments want to protect those revenues.

It would be much better for end users if the licenses where cheap and assessed whether people were criminals, not how deep their pockets are. Maybe the two arent inseparable.

michaels

Generali wrote: »

Oh yes, the current cab laws in Sydney are here to prop up the price of cab licence plates ($400,000) rather than to help cabbies make a living or clients get a cab. That needs to change and I hope this helps.

I suspect you are not long cab licences then....